Once again, I feel like so much has happened this week- and I don't even know where to start!
Welp. Transfers were Tuesday. Hermana Deleon and I picked up Hermana Reid - She's from Arizona, and is waiting for her visa for Argentina (cool, right?) Usually, visa waiters just have to wait till they receive their visa, and then they can immediately leave to their country...but she said that with her mission, even if she receives it today - she'd have to wait till it's their transfers...which happens to be the week before ours. Point is. We'll have her for another 4 weeks - possibly another transfer after that. Fingers crossed! She's the best- we basically laugh all day long. And luckily, for me - her Spanish is rockin' for a "Greenie". According to most missionaries I've talked with, being in a trio is the pits. False. This is the BEST system ever. Deleon has pretty much clocked out (oh yeah, she's staying till next transfers, because she's working on getting her missionary visa switched to a student one), which works nicely. Reid and I teach the vast majority of the Spanish, and just go with it..and then when we get stuck, or don't know a word...we just look and Deleon and she fills in the blanks. You could say I've learned a lot of Spanish this week.
1. Tuesday. First day with Hmna Reid. Deleon stayed back in Naperville and went to the Departing Missionary Farewell with President Fenn, seeing that she's supposed to have left this last transfer. Did that leave Reid and I all alone? Yes. Soooo fun! I always have to laugh when I think about what others think (mostly just the Hispanics) about two white girls walking around, trying to spit out some Spanish. It's pretty entertaining, not gonna lie. Also. At the baptism on Saturday (read point 4..) Hmna Reid, Elder Francis and I, sang a special musical number, "Mas Cerca Dios de Ti". We decided we wanna start a band after the mish. "Los Gueros"...essentially, the white people. Rockin name, right?
2. We had our "Farewell Conference" with President/Sister Fenn on Friday. That was rough. For those not aware- our mission split officially, this morning. I'm in the Illinois, Chicago mission - but the vast majority of my friends...and President/Sister Fenn are in the new Illinois, Chicago West mission. We ended the meeting with singing, "God Be with you, Till We Meet Again". You could say that just about everyone was crying #tendermoments. Also. Side note. We were saying our goodbyes- I told President Fenn that it was a shame we were not allowed to hug...and he said he'd make the exception for the day, and gave all of us Hermanas hugs. Bless his heart.
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3. Long-ish story. Brace yourself. Here's the background info. Like a month and a half ago, one of the branch members, Julia (she goes out with us all the time) asked if we knew the Familia Hernandez that lived on the other side of our area. Nope. Never heard of them, and had no record. Point is. They were taught by the Elders last winter, were coming to Church pretty consistently and - and then when the Elders got moved - the family kinda got "lost" because no one wrote down ANYTHING. So upsetting, really. Anyway. Julia took us to where the family lived like two weeks ago- and we made a follow up appt for this past Saturday. Turns out the father is a in-active member, and he really really wants his daughter (maybe 13-14) and wife to listen and be baptized. (Note. We talked with them a little bit last time - the wife showed next to no interest...which made a us a little hesitant going into the lesson) Sooo, we're sitting in our lesson. About to leave. And Hermana Reid just pipes in, and asks, "When you come to know that these things are true, will you follow the example of Jesus Christ, and be baptized?" So awkward. She sat there for a solid minute, and was just like, ehhhhhh...ehhh....i don't know. Then, her husband, who's been silent this whole time...decided to pipe in...and was like, "I don't think you understand the question. When you KNOW, you'll be baptized because you'll want to". So bold. So awesome. She agreed to read and pray. Allllssso. The family doesn't own a car. People. Look at a map, please. We live in Mundelelin/Vernon Hills area. This family is in HIghwood..and we go to church in Gurnee. We're not allowed to drive non-members...and the members in our area, either couldn't, or straight up wouldn't drive out there. You could say we were kinda freaking out Saturday night, trying to find someone to pick this family up. Hermana Deleon was literally calling the family, about to tell them we couldn't find a ride, when I flipped and told her we'd find a way to get them there. You could call it a small tender mercy, when I checked the phone first thing Sunday morning, and there was a message from the one sister who lives in Highwood- who said she could take them. Lesson learned. There's always a way, when people are trying to do what's right.
4. The Elders in our branch had a baptism on Saturday- Jessica and her mom showed up. We invited them last week- but totally spaced it. Ah. So awesome! When it actually came time for the baptism - Jessica was sitting front row, excited outta her mind.
Once again. What was supposed to be a short letter has turned into a novel. Lo siento, peeps. Thanks for the support...and birthday love. Ya'll are the best :)
Know that I love what I'm doing - and although most days are harder than I'd like them to be- there's no where else I'd rather be.
Like I tell EVERYONE, all day, everyday...The restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, that we have today is true. If you wanna know for yourself. Ask. I love more than anything, being able to see this message change not only the lives of those I come in contact with - but my own life.
We met with a referral we received last week. Lydia. First thing we asked, why were you interested in meeting with us? The member that she met (and gave us her info), had a "joy and peace" she couldn't describe...and she wants that for herself and family. The gospel can do that for people. I know it.
I love you all so much!
Hmna Mortensen
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